[Jeff Chandler]

Currently, the Catholic Church permits only men to be ordained as deacons. Deacons can preach and preside at baptisms, funerals and weddings, but may not celebrate Mass or hear confessions.

Not true. Deacons may indeed hear confessions. They just can't give absolution.

[Tax-chick]

Don’t these people have better things to do with their time? Dust the cathedral or something?

[Dr. Sivana]

the synod should reflect on the possibility of allowing for female deacons

tick tick tick . . . no.

[Dr. Sivana]

And this silliness is pertinent to a synod on the family in WHAT way?!

[onedoug]

Take it to the Episcopal Church, Archbishop. They’d love to have you.

[NorthMountain]

Whatever Franky’s intentions may be, he’s certainly having the effect of bringing all the looneys out of the woodwork. There’s some value in that.

[Salvation]

Won’t happen. Did Christ have any female deacons? No, he chose men.

[NRx]

Qui nunc it per iter tenebricosum illuc, unde negant redire quemquam.

[goodwithagun]

Go join the Anglicans. They love this sort of heresy.

[Sergio]

bkmk

[Guardian Sebastian]

I thought when a man becomes a deacon he receives the sacrament of Holy Orders just as a priest does. He isn’t fully a priest at that time since many are married and have children, but when their spouse dies they will not remarry and may become priests who at that point will be able to administer the sacraments.

[Petrosius]

Jesus Christ created only one sacrament of Holy Orders which he limited to men. The division into three orders of bishops, priests and deacons was latter by the authority of the Apostles. Therefore, our Lord’s action of restricting Holy Orders to men is equally applicable to deacons as it is to bishops and priests.

[The_Reader_David]

Well, if any of you Latins are seriously considering this, the ancient canons concerning women entering the altar should be recalled — only virgins over the age of 40 or widows living in celibate chastity over the age of 60 are permitted under the ancient canons.

This comes up from time to time among us Orthodox, since there were undoubtedly deaconesses in the ancient Church. There is an argument that they never functioned liturgically as deacons, but were catechists for women and took care of women’s baptisms in the time when it was customary for the baptisand to be naked, but certainly if they ever functioned as liturgical deacons, it was circumscribed by the canon I noted above.

I have actually been to Vespers as at a women’s monastery during which one of the nuns served in the altar.